Weekend Shooting Marks Second Homicide Near Polk Street This Summer

A 23-year-old man fatally shot early Saturday morning marks the second nighttime homicide near a busy section of Polk Street this summer.

The suspect shot and killed the 23-year-old around 2:23 a.m. on Polk Street, between Post and Sutter streets, where police found the victim already deceased. The Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as Victor Sosa, a San Francisco resident.

Police described the suspect as a 27-year-old man, who has not been arrested.

Sosa’s death marks the second homicide on a popular stretch of nightclubs, notably during nighttime over the weekend. On Aug. 19, a fatal stabbing occurred around 10:26 p.m. on the 900 block of Geary Street — just blocks away from nightclubs like Upcider and Playland on a Sunday night.

Turner, who lived in San Francisco, was transported to the hospital and died.

Another homicide took place just two blocks away from the Geary Street homicide on Sept. 2, though not during the nighttime. A physical altercation between two residents of Edgeworth Hotel on O’Farrell Street, between Hyde and Larkin streets, around 1:20 p.m. led to the death of 66-year-old James Montgomery.

The suspect is a Tenderloin artist, Sylvester Guard, who remained at the scene tried to administer CPR before his arrest. At his arraignment earlier this month, about a dozen community supporters showed up to vouch for their friend, who is facing a voluntary manslaughter charge.

This post has been updated with information regarding the GoFundMe page.

UPDATE, 9/18: Police arrested San Francisco resident Jose Manuel Beltran, a spokesperson announced Tuesday. Around 3 p.m. Saturday, investigators booked him into jail for manslaughter, carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle, and carrying a loaded firearm in public.

Police first responded to what sounded like a car collision, finding a black Toyota Corolla and gray Honda Civic. Sosa, who drove the Toyota, was found suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and died at the scene despite efforts by paramedics.